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Breast Disorders |
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Breast Pain |
| Breast pain is a common
complaint and a source of great distress for many women. The
medical term for breast pain is mastodynia. Breast pain can occur
in a cyclic fashion corresponding with the onset of your periods, or it
can be non-cyclic. Non-cyclic breast pain does not have easily
identifiable triggers. |
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The key to the evaluation of
breast pain is to make sure there is no underlying problem that is the
source of the pain. This includes a complete breast examination as
well as a mammogram and/or ultrasound depending on the woman's age.
If there is no underlying abnormality as the cause of the pain, it is
generally due to hormonal stimulus. |
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Post-menopausal women on
estrogen supplements may find a relief in their breast discomfort by
lowering the dose of the supplemental estrogen or by discontinuing it
entirely. For women not on supplemental estrogen, a variety of
tools can be utilized to manage the pain. This may include
anti-inflammatory medications such as Motrin or Aleve or in some cases,
hormonal manipulation. |
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For women who have cyclic
breast pain, controlling the breast pain may require use of oral
contraceptives to modulate the hormonal changes during the menstrual
cycle. In addition, the drug, Danazol, most commonly used for
management of endometriosis, can be very effective in reducing breast
pain. For mild cases evening primrose oil, a fatty acid
supplement, can provide relief of symptoms if taken regularly over a
period of several weeks. |
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Fortunately, most breast pain
is not constant or severe and is often self-limiting. |
